Propaganda is the use of persuasive communication to influence the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors of a group of people. Propaganda may promote positive social goals, such as convincing people not to smoke cigarettes or drink and drive. Propaganda is often used in advertising campaigns that convince us we will improve our game if we wear certain shoes or be more healthy if we eat a particular brand of cereal. Propaganda is frequently used by politicians to earn our votes.
In 21st century America, the word propaganda carries a connotation that makes us uneasy. We equate it with manipulation for nefarious purposes. Much of this perspective is born out of the propaganda from World War II – especially the propaganda created by the Nazis.
During the Nazi period, propaganda was used for a variety of purposes. The Nazi Party used it to persuade Germans to vote for their party’s platform. They used propaganda to gain the loyalty of the “Aryan” German people, convincing them that the Nazi Party was improving the quality of their lives. The Nazis also used propaganda to encourage people in a highly integrated German society to regard some neighbors as inferior – worthy of exclusion and, eventually, annihilation.
Propaganda will be used as long as humans communicate, but we don’t have to let it harm people. By studying the ways the Nazis used propaganda and making connections with how propaganda is used currently, we can make choices to avoid its negative effects.
A successful essay or documentary entry will address both portions of the following prompt. At minimum, one-fourth of the finished work must be devoted to the REFLECTION.
RESEARCH: Analyze at least two examples of Nazi propaganda—one designed to promote inclusion and another designed to enforce exclusion. For each example, consider when it was produced, its intended goals, and the propaganda devices employed. Who was the target audience for inclusion, and who was excluded?
REFLECTION: Having learned about how propaganda can promote inclusion or exclusion, how does this impact how you consume and evaluate media today?
The finalists of this year’s White Rose contest were honored and the winners announced at the Academic Awards Ceremony on May 5, 2026. The winning essays and documentary – along with some photos of the evening – are posted below.
Mellini Kumaran
Harmony Middle School
Overland Park, KS
Robert Sanders, Sponsoring Teacher
Jenna Martens
Harmony Middle School
Overland Park, KS
Michaela Glensky, Sponsoring Teacher
Eric Mi
Harmony Middle School
Overland Park, KS
Michaela Glensky, Sponsoring Teacher
Oliver Park
Harmony Middle School
Overland Park, KS
Michaela Glensky, Sponsoring Teacher
Afia Rahman
Harmony Middle School
Overland Park, KS
Robert Sanders, Sponsoring Teacher
From left: Mellini Kumaran and Afia Rahman with their sponsoring teacher Robert Sanders; Jenna Martens, Eric Mi, and Oliver Park with their sponsoring teacher Michaela Glensky.
Eric Mi
Harmony Middle School
Overland Park, KS
Michaela Glensky, Sponsoring Teacher
Photo at right: Eric reads his paper to the audience during the Academic Awards Ceremony.
Elyse Ashlock
Westridge Middle School
Overland Park, KS
Stephen Hewitt, Sponsoring Teacher
Watch Elyse’s documentary.
Elyse Ashlock with her sponsoring teacher, Stephen Hewitt.
Brianna Flint
Lone Jack High School
Lone Jack, MO
Angie Gottesburen, Sponsoring Teacher
Kate Jack
Lone Jack High School
Lone Jack, MO
Angie Gottesburen, Sponsoring Teacher
Jacob Lidberg
Lone Jack High School
Lone Jack, MO
Angie Gottesburen, Sponsoring Teacher
Lilly McCleary
Lone Jack High School
Lone Jack, MO
Angie Gottesburen, Sponsoring Teacher
Kate Miller
Lone Jack High School
Lone Jack, MO
Angie Gottesburen, Sponsoring Teacher
From left: Brianna Flint, Kate Jack, and Kate Miller with Angie Gottesburen, their sponsoring teacher. Jacob Lidberg and Lilly McCleary were not able to attend.
Kate Jack
Lone Jack High School
Lone Jack, MO
Angie Gottesburen, Sponsoring Teacher
At right: Kate reads her winning essay to the audience during the awards ceremony.
The contest is named in memory of the White Rose, a resistance movement consisting of German university students. Among them were Hans and Sophie Scholl, along with several friends and their professor, were arrested and executed for distributing leaflets denouncing the policies of the Nazi regime. The project commemorates the efforts of these brave young people who gave their lives for what they believed in. May their memories inspire us to reflect upon our own responsibilities as citizens in a democratic nation.
Our mission is to teach the history of the Holocaust, applying its lessons to counter indifference, intolerance, and genocide.
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